Marian Devotions Through the Year: January

January starts off with the feast of the Most Holy Mother of God or the Theotokos (The Circumcision of Our Lord in the Old Calendar) on January 1. Since she is also Queen of Heaven and Earth, it seems extra fitting that the earthly calendar year should start out by celebrating her greatest achievement, grace, and gift.

Marian Virtue: Unceasing Prayer

This month we focus on the fourth of the traditional Ten Virtues of Our Lady. Unceasing Prayer is a fitting one to cultivate as we follow Our Lady liturgically into her role of Mother of God who holds all things in her heart.

Marian Theme: Theotokos, Mary Mother of God

Devotion to our Lady in January puts a special emphasis on her title “Theotokos” or “God-Bearer” since the month begins with the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God. This lovely dogma—that Mary is Mother of God since Christ is both human and divine—was formally declared at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. at which point the Church Fathers also anathematized Nestorius’ teaching to the contrary as heresy. While the liturgical month devotion for January centers around The Holy Childhood or The Most Holy Name of Jesus, both the Marian and monthly themes fit together very well in their ultimate focus on the Child Jesus, Son of Mary. 

Marian Antiphon: Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
Porta manes, et stella maris, sucurre cadenti, 
Surgere qui curat populo: tu quae genuisti, 
Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem, 
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Usque ad diem 23 decembris:

V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae. 
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.

Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut, qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

A die 24 decembris:

V. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti.
R. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.

Let us pray. Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate fecudna, humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem vitae suscipere, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum. Amen.

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O loving Mother of our Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea,
Hasten to aid thy fallen people who strive to rise once more.
Thou who brought forth thy holy Creator, all creation wond'ring, 
Yet remainest ever Virgin, taking from Gabriel's lips
that joyful "Hail!": be merciful to us sinners.

Up through the day before Christmas Eve:

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. 
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

From Christmas Eve on:

V. Thou gavest birth without loss of thy virginity:
R. Intercede for us, O holy Mother of God.

Let us pray. O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast offered unto the human race the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech thee, that we may know the effects of her intercession, through whom we have deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen.

The liturgical year cycles through four Marian Antiphons, each having a Simple Tone and Solemn Tone in Gregorian chant. Marian antiphons are typically chanted after night prayer and immediately before going to bed. January continues the liturgical season of Christmas, so this month the only Antiphon is the Alma Redemptoris Mater which continues traditionally all the way until Candlemas (February 2). The text of the Alma is attributed to a monk from Reichenau, Herimann the Lame (1013-1054). 

Sheet music for the Alma Redemptoris Mater Simple Tone may be printed from here (page 234 of the Parish Book of Chant pdf). 

Sheet music for the Solemn Tone may be found on page 235 of the same pdf. 

Marian Feasts

• January 1 - Circumcision of Our Lord/Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
• January 2 - Our Lady of Pillar (A.D. 40)
• January 8 (New Orleans) or 15 (elsewhere) - Our Lady of Prompt Succor (1809)
• January 17 - Our Lady of Pontmain (1871)
• January 23 - Feast of the Espousals of Joseph and Mary (approved by Pope Paul III in 1536)

Marian Devotion

St. John Bosco’s Prayer to Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians,
how sweet it is to come to your feet
imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children,
how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore you,
your perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven. Amen.

Marian Customs Highlight: The Espousals of Joseph and Mary

This feast on January 23 is one that most people probably have not heard much about, which is precisely why Beata Home's Journal is highlighting it this month of January. We have heard so much about how in the end times the battle will be over marriage and the family. Why not then place special emphasis on the wedding of the most holy couple that ever lived on earth? 

Feasts traditionally were preceded by a day of fasting on the Eve. Since fasting places emphasis not just on preparation but also on obtaining special graces, one important way to acknowledge the importance of espousals is to fast on January 22 for blessing upon your marriage and family (incidentally also the day of fasting and prayer for Protection of the Unborn since Roe v. Wade went into effect on this day in the 1970’s). This can be followed on January 23 by Holy Mass as a family, the parents renewing their wedding vows in the presence of their children, obtaining a family blessing from your parish priest, and a thoughtful family dinner together both in honor of your own family and marriage and in honor of the Espousals of Joseph and Mary. Perhaps renewing a Marian Consecration if the couple made one on their wedding day, or consecrating one’s family to the protection of St. Joseph and imitation of the Holy Family, is another way to celebrate the feast. Anything that highlights the importance of the Holy Family, marriage, and your own family nuptials would be perfect on this day, especially if you have your own little practices stemming from your parental or spousal relationship that can be shared with your children to show the sacredness of the bond.